The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-23
DEATH STEPS BETWEEN.
: Lifelong Romance Cut Off in It's
Brightest Bloom.

One of the strangest romances of real life
of the present generation came to drama
tic end in one of the parlors of the Aston
House on Saturday afternoon. All con-
cerned in the sad story belong to we'll
known families on both sides of the At
lantic and no coloring is necessary to por-
tray series of events that, as told below,
must startle even the finest artists in the
rrnsent school of literary realism
Let the narrative flow, therefore, as the
Facts from several sources came into possess
sion of the reporter:
Two of the best known and highly re-
snected families Of Boston are the Crownin-
Shields and Stones, and their children. now
crown to manhood and womanhood, We're
ELIMINATES together, in close fellowship at
he kindergarten, and their elders were fond
81 fostering the intimacy as the period of
youth was passed.
Among the young ladies of this harmoni-
nus circle was Florence Stone, who was at
90 beautiful in face and graceful in figure.
Carefully reared, thoroughly educated,
strong in her musical culture, witty in talk,
and of course sought after by all of the
swes of Boston swelldom; but flattery did
not turn her head nor social alteration upset
her reason, and she unreservedly gave hel.
heart and hand to the hero of her childhood,
the handsomest of the Crowninshields-a
tall, manly six-footer and veritable ath-
lcte After a brief engagement there was a
tiff-of its character nothing is known save
to the contracting parties, but there was a
separation and Mr.. Crowinshield took I'D
MS residence in Europe.
ACT NUMBER TWO.
Finally Mr.. CrowninShield, with his ac-
Ieic Ial -, T
and at once entered the highest social cir
cles of the capital, the latter marrying into
the British peerage, where she now holds
broad sway as one of the queens of the arts
tocracy. Her brother not long after mar
ried an estimable lady by whom he had
three children. Happiness reigned in his
household, aod his material prosperity kept
pace with his household joy, and he soon
counted himself many times a millionaire
But bis wife did not long survive the birth
of her third child, and the wild
over was left to care for his
Young children and his widely scat
tered possessions Among them was piece
of property in the Northwest Territory
valued at several hundred thousand dollars
So he came to the United States to look
after his interests here By the merest
chance he met his former sweetheart,
Florence Stone, and finding that, unlike
himself, she had remained true to her at
tachment and physically and mentally she
had matured into a noble specimen of a wo-
man, he again laid his station and fortune
ut her feet and was again accepted.
There was unconcealed delight among all
the relatives and friends of the couple, and
particularly so among those of Miss Stone
whose family was no longer wealthy and
who had shown enough resolution and pride
to augment her income by turning to prac-
teal use quick intellect and extended cul-
ture Following the announcement of the
engagement Mr. Crowninshield went West
to perfect the title to his great purchases of
land, but he found that in order to complete
it journey to Calcutta would be necessary,
particularly in order to obtain the sworn
testimony of the only living witness who
could substantiate the record
THE FATAL JOURNEY.
Before sailing from New York elaborate
preparations were made for the wedding,
which was to be one of the most imposing
oeremonials ever celebrated at that aristo-
cratic marital shrine, st. Georges Chapel,
London, and the trosSeau was ordered from
the most celebrated establishments of Paris
Mr., CrOwninshield finally left America with
light heart, full of his coming marriage
On his arrival in London he wrote to Miss
Stone, directing her to invite not only all
per family to the wedding, but as many of
Us SIG CuOUSe III
md to select staterOOmS for them on the
Cunard steamer then to sail, and to permit
no one to expend nickel from the time of
their departure from New York until they
should again set foot on American soil He
then took Peninsular and Oriental steam
ship from Liverpool, arrived at Calcutta,
perfected the title to his American property
and started on his homeward journey to
England.
al 1,,4o s,,%r tbn
spirit OF all the details of what was to be
the most important event of her life. She
appointed the wedding to take place at St
Georges Chapel in the first days of August
md Mr.. Crowninshield's sister took charge
Of all the preparations in London. Over
hfty invitations were issued and accepted
py the American friends of the couple to
20 to England, and passages were secured
Tor them on the Cunard steamer Etruria, to
SAL next Saturday. 1t was determined to
make the affair the most notable one of the
Elnd in London's history, and the toilets of
thoSe who were to have sailed on Saturday
are described as having been long in prepa-
ration and of a costly and elaborate char
acter
30 determined was the bridegroom that
everything should run smoothly that he
sent his confidential friend and agent, Mr.
nun, to New York, to superintend all do
tails, look after the affairs of Miss Stone,
and finally act in a business way as her es-
;;ort to London. He was given carte
blanche, and orders for unstinted liberality
We're particularly commanded by Mr.
Crowninshied.
THREATENING OMEN.
On Saturday morning last Miss Stone, ac
iompanied by Mr. Hull, visited their
oanEers whose name could not be ascer-
Salhed by the reporter Her purpose was to
nave some drafts cashed. While she was
ransacting her business she noticed that
Mr' Hull had received several cablegrams,
maj his face had assumed an ashen pallor,
ana That he was in close and confidential
conference with the head of the house, She
oegan to feel very uneasy and knew that
smoothing important had happened. Mr.
nun conducted her in silence to the Aston
mouse and secured a private parlor, and
'h!s is what happened.
THE DEMO UEMENT.
Mr.. Hull drew out the first cablegram
ana said he had some very disagreeable
news to communicate IT read:
Mr.. Crowninshield'ver i'll. D."
without any tact or deliberation what
ever he read the second, thus:
Mr. Crowninshield is dead and was
oulied--n
Miss Stone went into a dead faint and
never heard the conclusion of the message,